US defence secretary Mattis pushes diplomatic solutions, but Beijing remains wary of Trump administration
US defence secretary takes soft line on South China Sea disputes
A softer line taken by US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis over the South China Sea on Saturday may help clarify Washington’s stance, but Beijing is likely to remain very cautious on the rhetoric of President Donald Trump’s administration, Chinese analysts said.
Speaking in Tokyo with his Japanese counterpart Tomomi Inada as he wrapped up his first overseas trip, Mattis played down any need for major US military moves in the South China Sea.
“What we have to do is exhaust all efforts, diplomatic efforts, to try and resolve this properly. Our military stance should be one that reinforces our diplomats,” he said.
“At this time, we do not see any need for dramatic military moves at all.”
However, Mattis said, China, which claims most of the waters in the South China Sea, had “shredded the trust of nations in the region, apparently trying to have veto authority over the diplomatic and security and economic conditions of neighbouring states”.